Belt oil skimmer apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus for removing oil from the surface of a liquid using an endless belt partially submerged in the liquid, the belt passes over a primary roller having a vertical axis and pressure rollers squeeze the belt on the primary roller removing oil from the belt which flows by gravity to a collection receptacle mounted upon a frame supporting the primary roller and its drive structure. The belt twists whereby its lower portion submerged in the liquid defines a reversing loop whose configuration is maintained by a weight roller having a horizontal axis of rotation.

We claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for removing oil from the horizontal surface of a body of liquid comprising, in combination, a frame adapted to be supported adjacent the body of liquid from which oil is to be removed, a primary elongated roller rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis inclined relative to the horizontal, said roller having an outer surface adapted to receive a substantially flat belt, a substantially flat endless belt having first and second sides, said belt first side engaging said roller, at least one pressure roller rotatably mounted on said frame having an axis of rotation adjacent said primary roller and engaging said belt second side and maintaining said belt first side in engagement with said primary roller, a motor mounted on said frame operatively connected to at least one of said rollers for rotating said rollers about their axes of rotation, and a collection receptacle mounted on said frame below said rollers receiving oil removed from said belt by said rollers, said belt depending below said primary roller and below said receptacle into the body of liquid from whose surface oil is to be removed. 
     
     
       2. In apparatus as in claim 1, said axis of rotation of said primary roller being substantially vertically oriented. 
     
     
       3. In apparatus as in claim 1, said axes of rotation of said primary and pressure rollers being substantially parallel and substantially vertically oriented. 
     
     
       4. In apparatus as in claim 2, said primary roller having a free cantilever end and a drive end, said motor being operatively connected to said primary roller drive end. 
     
     
       5. In apparatus as in claim 1, an oil retaining reservoir defined on said frame, and conduit means establishing communication between said collection receptacle and said retaining reservoir. 
     
     
       6. In apparatus as in claim 5, vertical adjustment means defined on said frame supporting said rollers, motor and collection receptacle for selective vertical adjustment of said roller, motor and collection receptacle on said frame, said conduit means including telescoping conduit members defined on said receptacle and said reservoir maintaining communication between said receptacle and reservoir at all positions of said adjustment means. 
     
     
       7. In apparatus as in claim 1, said endless belt including a reversing loop at its lowermost position, a weight roller supported within said loop having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation said belt twisting intermediate said primary roller and said weight roller. 
     
     
       8. In apparatus as in claim 1, a pair of pressure rollers rotatably mounted on said frame, said pressure rollers having substantially parallel axes of rotation parallel to the axis of said primary roller and being located upon opposite sides of said primary roller whereby said pressure rollers maintain said belt first side in engagement with approximately one half of the circumference of said primary roller. 
     
     
       9. In apparatus as in claim 8, spring means biasing said pressure rollers toward each other and said primary roller, and lock means locking said pressure rollers in a primary roller access position spaced from said primary roller. 
     
     
       10. In apparatus as in claim 8, gears defined on said primary and pressure rollers, said pressure roller gear meshing with said primary roller gear whereby all said rollers are geared together for simultaneous rotation. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus for removing oil from the horizontal surface of a body of liquid comprising, in combination, a frame, a frame housing adjustably mounted on said frame for selective vertical adjustment thereto, a primary roller rotatably mounted on said frame housing having a substantially vertical axis of rotation, a substantially cylindrical circumference and upper and lower ends, an electric motor mounted on said frame housing operatively connected to said primary roller upper end for rotating said primary roller about its axis, an endless flat belt having first and second sides extending about said primary roller and including a loop portion depending below said housing adapted to be submerged in the body of liquid from which oil is to be removed, said belt extending about said primary roller wherein said first side engages said roller circumference, a pressure roller support mounted on said frame housing adjacent said primary roller for movement between first and second positions, at least one substantially cylindrical pressure roller mounted on said support for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, a spring biasing said pressure roller support toward said first position whereby said pressure roller engages said belt second side and forces said belt first side into engagement with said primary roller circumference, movement of said pressure roller support to said second position displacing said pressure roller from adjacent said pressure roller to permit installation and removal of said belt relative to said pressure roller, a collection receptacle mounted on said frame housing below said primary and pressure rollers collecting oil removed from said belt by said rollers and an oil removing conduit in communication with said collection receptacle. 
     
     
       12. In apparatus as in claim 11, said primary roller lower end being free and unsupported to permit belt installation and removal with respect to said primary roller upon said pressure roller support being located at said second position. 
     
     
       13. In apparatus as in claim 11, said endless belt including a reversing loop at its lowermost portion, a weight roller supported within said loop having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation said belt twisting intermediate said primary roller and said weight roller. 
     
     
       14. In apparatus as in claim 11, a pair of pressure rollers rotatably mounted on said pressure roller support, said pressure rollers being located on substantially opposite diametrical locations with respect to said primary roller and said pressure roller support comprising a plurality of linkages supporting said pair of pressure rollers whereby movement of said support between said first and second positions simultaneously positions both pressure rollers relative to said primary roller. 
     
     
       15. In apparatus as in claim 14, gears defined on said primary and pressure rollers, said gears defined on said pressure rollers meshing with said primary roller gear when said pressure roller support is in said first position. 
     
     
       16. In apparatus as in claim 11, a reservoir mounted on said frame, said conduit being in communication with said reservoir. 
     
     
       17. In apparatus as in claim 16, a vertical inlet conduit defined on said reservoir, said oil removing conduit being vertically oriented and telescopingly communicating with said inlet conduit.